Drag Race royalty Shea Couleé pleads with fans to ‘stay safe’ as her cousin dies from coronavirus

Mar 18 2020
Written by Lily Wakefield

Shea Coulée attends “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 9 Finale Taping at Alex Theatre on June 9, 2017 in Glendale, California. (Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)

RuPaul’s Drag Race royalty Shea Couleé has urged fans to take care of each other after her cousin passed away from coronavirus.

The queen, who first appeared in the ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race wrote on Tuesday, March 17, in a now-deleted tweet: “I just learned that a cousin of mine died today from coronavirus.

“No one knew she had it, and I’m growing concerned for my other family members in her household.”

Shea Couleé, 31, whose real name is Jaren Kyei Merrell, urged her followers to look out for one another during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She added: “This is serious. Please stay safe everyone.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race stars sent love and support to Couleé via social media.

Dusty Ray Bottoms wrote: “So sorry, sending love.” Darienne Lake also sent her condolences.

So sorry ??? sending love

— Dusty Ray Bottoms (@DustyRayBottoms) March 17, 2020

Other celebrities have also taken to social media to encourage fans to take precautions, and look after themselves and others.

Billie Eilish said in an Instagram story: “I’ve seen lots of young people out in the world all over the place going to the club or going to the beach or just going out and it’s really irresponsible.

“Stop hoarding things because when you hoard things and buy out stores, you’re making it harder for people that actually need that.

“There’s like no toilet paper in stores, no hand sanitiser. There’s like barely any food, any vegetables.”

“It’s a really big deal and people are losing their lives.”

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter, encouraging her fans to self-isolate.